In a move that is bound to upset the BJP, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's cabinet on Wednesday announced its decision to name the Samruddhi Corridor between Mumbai and Nagpur after Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Former CM Devendra Fadnavis' pet project, the expressway was to be earlier dedicated to ex-PM and BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee. Thackeray wanted his father's name for the super communication expressway ever since it was conceived and fast-tracked by Fadnavis under the department that was then headed by Sena's Eknath Shinde. In fact, the Sena ministers who were part of the Fadnavis cabinet had suggested Sena supremo's name then too."

CM Thackeray also allotted R3,500 crore to the project which many thought would be stalled. Scrapping it was, however, not possible because at least 40 per cent work on some stretches has been completed and land has also been acquired. The additional money would help alter the financial plan of the R55,000-crore project and save at least R2,500 crore of interest. There would be no need for the government to stand guarantee for R16,500 crore, an official said.